New therapist

[emgrl]

I had a session with my new therapist today. At one point she stated she had to let me know that everything I say is confidential, except for three things:

1- If I plan to CTB
2- If I plan to harm someone else
3- If any harm is done to a minor (I believe she left out the elderly on this one)

She said for those three, she'd have to alert the authorities.

All I could think was "I would Never tell you if I plan to CTB!" The other 2 don't even apply.

Then, I thought about the fact that I was going to come straight back here when my session was over. It's such a shame that we can't discuss what troubles most of us the deepest, even with a person we're supposed to share our most inner thoughts with. I mean, we pay for it.

 

[LaVieEnRose]

I was so stupid to be too honest with an old one and paid for it with massive trauma to last a lifetime. I agree the threat of intervention looming over therapy really takes away from what it can do. Though I don't think they're necessarily the best people to do something anyways. You can talk about feeling suicidal; if it is imminent they have to act. But you can be forceful in affirming that it isn't lest they misunderstand (as therapists are wont to do).

BTW I noticed late that you sent me a tip, so thanks for that.

 

[emgrl]

I was so stupid to be too honest with an old one and paid for it with massive trauma to last a lifetime. I agree the threat of intervention looming over therapy really takes away from what it can do. Though I don't think they're necessarily the best people to do something anyways. You talk about feeling suicidal; if it is imminent they have to act. But you can be forceful in affirming that it isn't lest they misunderstand (as therapists are won't to do).

BTW I noticed late that you sent me a tip, so thanks for that.

I don't mind being open with her, but I truly don't think that any of it helps. I wish it could. I wish talking about my trauma over and over again made everything all better, but it doesn't.

Oh, you're welcome! Did it help?

 

[Rounded Agony]

This is a serious detractor from me making the large amount of effort required to find a suitable therapist whom I could actually afford. I wonder, maybe depending on jurisdiction, how much leeway you have with the "plan to" part. You could talk about what you want to do, how and why you would, but never say you are actually planning it. Maybe something to ask in session, or maybe look up on your own in case just asking gets into dangerous territory.

 

[freedompass]

Yeah I started with an online therapist a few weeks ago and have had quite a lot of therapy and counselling over the years. Here in the UK you are very unlikely to be hospitalised for suicide ideation because you're not paying, they are! Blows my mind what goes on in the US. Imagine being kidnapped to a facility, enduring torture and forced drugging then having to foot the bill when they let you go!

I talk freely about the contents of my mind for the most part but I am careful to be clear with my therapist that I have never attempted or self harmed in any way and have no intention of doing so now. It defeats the object to pay for therapy and not even be able to say what's on your mind.

 

[emgrl]

It was weird, too… she made an awkward joke saying "I have to tell authorities, because I don't work well with dead patients"

I chuckled and we moved on…

 

[theboy]

It was weird, too… she made an awkward joke saying "I have to tell authorities, because I don't work well with dead patients"

I chuckled and we moved on…

farewell

 

[BluesRunTheGame]

It was weird, too… she made an awkward joke saying "I have to tell authorities, because I don't work well with dead patients"

That is not cool. Maybe just tell her you have a hypothetical friend who hypothetically wants to ctb or something. Or create a character who 'did' ctb and describe 'how it has affected' you. See what she says to that.

 

[Someone123]

That is not cool. Maybe just tell her you have a hypothetical friend who hypothetically wants to ctb or something. Or create a character who 'did' ctb and describe 'how it has affected' you. See what she says to that.

That is pretty risky- if it is clear the this hypothetical friend is her she will still have to tell authorities, and then she will be involuntarily hospitalized for as long as they decide to. The therapist has to do this or they could lose their career, it's the law, so it is best not to play aru0nd with this, but just to keep in mind that this is a limit of therapy even though we wish it wasn't.

 

[BluesRunTheGame]

this is a limit of therapy even though we wish it wasn't

I know; it's one reason why I won't partake in the farce.

 

[emgrl]

That is not cool. Maybe just tell her you have a hypothetical friend who hypothetically wants to ctb or something. Or create a character who 'did' ctb and describe 'how it has affected' you. See what she says to that.

Nahhh… I'd rather not tbh, what's the point? It'll be the same 'ol crap repeated… truth is, I wouldn't even ask about anyone else, even hypothetically because I don't want to hear it all… "how does that make you feel?" "Do you feel like you're going to hurt or kill yourself?".

All of this is so brand new to me, I've never suffered a trauma before this year, well none to this magnitude. Brand new to medication and therapy. I feel for everyone that has been suffering for years, this is no way to live.

 

[BluesRunTheGame]

Nahhh… I'd rather not tbh, what's the point? It'll be the same 'ol crap repeated… truth is, I wouldn't even ask about anyone else, even hypothetically because I don't want to hear it all… "how does that make you feel?" "Do you feel like you're going to hurt or kill yourself?".

All of this is so brand new to me, I've never suffered a trauma before this year, well none to this magnitude. Brand new to medication and therapy. I feel for everyone that has been suffering for years, this is no way to live.

Well I guess just try and get what you can out of it. I just really hate that she made a joke out of dead patients.

 

[Living_Hurts_so_Much]

I had a session with my new therapist today. At one point she stated she had to let me know that everything I say is confidential, except for three things:

1- If I plan to CTB
2- If I plan to harm someone else
3- If any harm is done to a minor (I believe she left out the elderly on this one)

She said for those three, she'd have to alert the authorities.

All I could think was "I would Never tell you if I plan to CTB!" The other 2 don't even apply.

Then, I thought about the fact that I was going to come straight back here when my session was over. It's such a shame that we can't discuss what troubles most of us the deepest, even with a person we're supposed to share our most inner thoughts with. I mean, we pay for it.

I made the mistake once of saying something once. A week later I was released from my "voluntary" week in a psych ward I swear I'll never say anything to anyone again and just exist until it's finally time to use the meto and SN I finally have. People suck.

 

[Cerulea]

I had a session with my new therapist today. At one point she stated she had to let me know that everything I say is confidential, except for three things:

1- If I plan to CTB
2- If I plan to harm someone else
3- If any harm is done to a minor (I believe she left out the elderly on this one)

She said for those three, she'd have to alert the authorities.

All I could think was "I would Never tell you if I plan to CTB!" The other 2 don't even apply.

Then, I thought about the fact that I was going to come straight back here when my session was over. It's such a shame that we can't discuss what troubles most of us the deepest, even with a person we're supposed to share our most inner thoughts with. I mean, we pay for it.

This hit me in the feels. I'm in a similar spot. It's painful because I have a suspicion that if I could thoroughly talk through this with my therapist, she could do the thing doctors are supposed to do and help me. I know what her legal obligations are. I can't tell her about any of it. And I had a similar session today where I knew full well that I would come to this space and engage in this way. Sure, financially it's insulting because I'm paying for a service to help me. Mentally, I feel insane knowing I can't talk to my brain doctor about the full breadth of my brain. There seems to be punishment involved for that kind of honesty so it lives in me and it lives in this space.

I'm so sorry. I really am. Your feelings are valid. I have been grateful that this little pocket of the internet exists for many reasons and this is another such reason. People deserve to be able to put their shit down. All of it.

 

[emgrl]

Well I guess just try and get what you can out of it. I just really hate that she made a joke out of dead patients.

Same, just didn't sit well with me.

I made the mistake once of saying something once. A week later I was released from my "voluntary" week in a psych ward I swear I'll never say anything to anyone again and just exist until it's finally time to use the meto and SN I finally have. People suck.

Yeah, I would Never tell anyone outside of here. So grateful for this site ♡

This hit me in the feels. I'm in a similar spot. It's painful because I have a suspicion that if I could thoroughly talk through this with my therapist, she could do the thing doctors are supposed to do and help me. I know what her legal obligations are. I can't tell her about any of it. And I had a similar session today where I knew full well that I would come to this space and engage in this way. Sure, financially it's insulting because I'm paying for a service to help me. Mentally, I feel insane knowing I can't talk to my brain doctor about the full breadth of my brain. There seems to be punishment involved for that kind of honesty so it lives in me and it lives in this space.

I'm so sorry. I really am. Your feelings are valid. I have been grateful that this little pocket of the internet exists for many reasons and this is another such reason. People deserve to be able to put their shit down. All of it.

It's just like, what can talking really do? Sadly in my case, nothing. Maybe it works for others, I hope it does. But there are some things that can't be fixed. Trauma doesn't just go away…

Thank you, I'm sorry for you, too. Me too, so grateful for this place and all of you ♡